Traffic signal



E. RECHTIN TRAFFIC SIGNAL Jan. 22, 1935.

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1926 INVENTOR @Wm Wfi TTORNEYS 1935- E. RECHTIN ,5

TRAFFI C S IGNAL Filed Sept. 24, 1926 6 Sheeis-Sheet 2 I BY INVENTQR I HIS ATTORNEYS Jan 22, 1935.

E. RECHTIN 7 1,988,569

TRAFFIC -S IGNAL Filed Sept. 24, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 6 WM fiflATTORNEYS Jan. 22, 1935. E. RECHTIN 1,988,569

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 24, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 :I um.-

INVENTOR Jan. 22, 1935. E RECHTIN 1,988,569

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 24, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 J .J all MOTOR O 122 GEAR DRIVEN C92 CONTACTOR ARMATUREACTUATED BACK CONTACTOR.

INVENTOR E. RECHTIN TRAFFIC SIGNAL Jan. 22, 1935.

Filed Sept. 24, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 6 My 7 HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Eberhardt 'Rechtin, East Orange, N. 3.,

assitnor 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to colored light signals for directing trafnc and for general use and to systems and apparatus for actuating and controlling such signals for changing and vary- 5 ing the signals in manner and for purposes such as are hereinafter set forth and for general purposes. a I

' Various objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular 10 description of one form of apparatus embodying the invention and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth l5 andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form of mechanism embodying the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation view in section 2 showing a light signal embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 1, 25 Fig. 41s a vertical sectional view of details of a gear box,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of further details of the gear box of Fig. 4 and of an electric time switch or contactor operated by the 30 gears thereof,

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewv along line 66 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a face view of a contactor terminal plate looking in the direction of arrows 7-7 in 35 Fi 8.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the terminal plate of Fig. 7 and of a contactor back of it, along line 88 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a view of the contactor of Fig. 8 taken 40 along line 9-9 of that figure,

Fig. 10 is a diagram of parts and electrical connections in the apparatus and its control,

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively elevation and plan views, both in part section, of a hollow lens 45 used in the apparatus,

Fig. 13 is a section view along line 13-13 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 14 is a section view along line 14-14 of Fig. 5, and 60 Fig. 15 is a part. section view along line 1515 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, the hollow casing l carries the plate 3 therein which supports the stationary shaft 6 extending centrally of the casing 1 55 through opening 8 and terminating outside thereof where it supports the electric signal lamp 1'0. Carried by plate 3. and about shaft 6 are the bearings 12 on which is mounted the boss 13 which carries an armature 14. An upward annular extension 213 of boss 13 about stem 6 car- 5 ries the square screen 216 about lamp 10 comprising the oppositely spaced color screens 16' of red glass, heavy translucent paper or the like and oppositely spaced heavy translucent green screens 17 which are rotatable with armature 14 10 and about lamp 10.

In the bearings 20, 20 the casing or base 1 supports the ring 22 which is rotatable about shaft 6 as an axis. A pair of annular flanges 24 and 25 forming part of ring 22 extend down one on each 15 side over a ring 26 extending upwardly from the top of base 1 and form therewith a weather and rain guard. A cap 30 clamped to ring 22 by bolts 32, 32, holds a hollow cylindrical lens 34 of the Fresnel or longitudinally fluted type (see Figs. 11 20 and 12) onto said ring 22 and rotatable therewith. An internal gear 36 carried by ring 22 is driven, through pinion 38, shaft 39, worm and gear 40 which are in gear box 41, and motor 42.

The square color screen, or lantern element, 25 216 swings through an arc of 90, actuated from one position to the other by means of a set of electromagnets 46, 47 and 48, Fig. 2. These magnets are mounted on a core plate 50, as shown in Fig. 2, and when suitably energized alter- 3o nately in pairs, as explained below, cause armature 14 to move into one or the other of its positions.

This alternate energization in pairs is done in the following manner and with the following circuits. A pair of feed wires 60 and 61, Fig. 10, are connected to a source of current not shown which serves also to light said lamp l0 and energize motor 42. A lead 62 from wire 61 connects to one terminal of magnet 47 (see Fig. 10) and a pivoted contactor 64, connected to the other terminal of magnet 47, is movable for contact between the terminals 66 and 68 for one end each, respectively, of magnet 46 and magnet 48. A spring 70 tends to hold contactor 64 against contact 68 and a relay magnet 72 is adapted upon energization to move said contactor 64 against the tension of spring into contact with contact 66. Magnet '72 is connected from main wire 60 by wire 76, then through wire 78 to a contactor 80 and 60 thence through wire 82 to main wire 61. Contactor 80, Figs. 8 and 9, comprises the contactor piece 282 mounted on the insulating block 83, carried by the stud 85 and moved through the arm 87 which is engaged by the prongs ofiork member 88 car- 55 'ried by boss '13, see Figs. 1 and 2. Said contactor 282 makes "and breaks contact by passin to and from contact with the contact fingers and which connect to the wires '78 and 82 through the binding posts 92, 92. The insulating base 94 serves to support said contacts 89 and 90 and the cover casing 96 through which said stud 85 extends.

'To the ends of magnets 46 and 48 placed one on each side of magnet 47 Fig. 2 there connects the contacts 100 and 102- Fig. 10, respectively. 721 spring 104 tends to hold a contact arm 106 in contact with contact 100, and arm 106 connects with said main 60 through wire 110. An electromagnet 112 serves when energized to oppose spring 104 and then to move contactor 106 from against contact 100 and against contact 102. Magnet 112 connects from main 60, through wire 110, wire 114 thence through wire 116, the gear driven contactor and wire 122 to main 61.

Contactor 129 see Figure 5 comprises an insulating base 125 which is mounted on gear box 41 and carriesthe segmental contact members 127 and 128 with which connect respectively the binding posts 130 and 131. Extending through base 125 and the bottom of gear box 41 is the shaft 133 which at its upper end carries the gear 135 and at its lower end carries the insulating block 137 through which extend the two screws 139 each of which carries an upper and a lower contactor 141 and 142 on opposite faces of block 137. Posts 130 and 131 through the nuts 144 and 145 carry the insulating block to which is mounted and pivotally adjustable thereon through screw 151 and nut-152 the insulating block 153 which carries the butterfly contact 154 which is held against contactors 142, 142. The contactors 141, 141 make contact with contacts 127 and 128. The position of contactor 154 is indicated by the plate 156 carried by screw 151 and having an indicating scale on the outside surface thereof for reference with respect to a corresponding point on base150. A pin 158 fixed to plate 156 and extending into an arcuate slot 159' in base 150 serves to limit the adjusting movement of contactor 154. Binding posts 130 and 131 connect respectively to said wires 116 and 122. Bases 1'25 and 150 support between them the cover casing 160. v

Contactor 120 connects mechanically,Figs. 5 and 6, to said motor 42 through shaft 133, said wormgear 135, a worm 1'70, a pinion 172, a pinion 1'74, a pinion 176, a gear 1'78, a bevel gear 180, bevel pinion 182, said shaft 39 and thence through said bevel and pinion 40 to motor 42. The gear ratios are varied as desired to control the rate of rotation of contactor 120.

In) the use and operation of the embodiment of this invention above described and herein illustrated with the mains 60 and 61 connected to a source of power supply motor 42 will be energized to rotate said lens 34 at a given rate. At the same time motor 42 will drive contactor 120 through the train of gears above described. With the circuit broken through contactor 120, Fig. 10,-spring 104 will hold contactor 106 against contact 100, and with armature 14, Fig. 2, turned to position the green screen 17 toward a given direction and to cause contactor 80, Figs. 8 and 9, to be in the closed position whereby magnet 72 is energized, contactor 64 will be held against contact" 66 thereby energizing magnets 46 and 4'7. Upon such energization armature 14 will be actuated to turnthe red screen 16 to the place of the green screen 1'7 and to cause the am 8'7 to move contactor 80 into the open circuit position whereupon. spring '70 moves contactor 64 into contact with contact 68 in preparation for the energization of magnets 4'1 and 48.

When contactor 120 .moves into the closed circuit position through the operation of motor 42 and magnet 112 is energized, contactor 106 is moved against contact 102 and a circuit completed through magnets 4'7 and 48 which upon energization will move the screen back into the original position and will cause said contactor 80 to move into the closed circuit position thereby causing the energization of magnet '72 and movement of contact 64 against contact 66 preparatory to the time when contactor 120 opens and permits spring 104 to cause contactor 106 to complete the circuit through magnets 46 and 4'7. It can be seen that in this manner screens 16 and 1'7 will be alternated in position. The duration of time of a given colored screen in a given position will depend on the rate of rotation of contactor 120 which can be varied by controlling the speed of motor 42 or by changing the gear train between them. With a given motor speed and gear train the ratio of the time one of said screens remains in a given position to the time in which the other screen occupies the same position depends upon the ratio of the time contactor 120 holds the circuit through magnet 112 closed to the time it holds it open. The ratio can be made unity by having the two wings of the butterfly contact 154 together cover an angle equal to the spaces between them. The proportion can be varied, as when it is desired to run traiflc for a longer period over amain thoroughfare than over a cross street, by changing contact 154 to,

to cover different angular distances. The time of making or breaking of contact can be set forward or retarded by moving contacts 154 on pin 151 by means of dial 156, Fig. 5.

It will be noted that lens 34 is continuously rotated and, as a result, the light from lamp 10 is projected to illuminate different directions as affected by the design of the lens. When the fluted type of lens is used the light is projected in beams of high intensity, i. e., concentrated in verticle planes, alternating with beams of less intensity, thus giving a flicker effect, and insuring that all approaches to the signal position are intermittently flooded with high intensity light of the color of the particular lantern element pane at the time it is viewed. The combined result of the structure and rotary mounting of the Fresnel lens is to give uniform illlumination, instead of sharp shadows.

Referring to Fig. 1 the set nuts 190 on the lower end of stem 6 with the spring 162 which presses against the shoulder 163 in the bore of boss 13 and against the socket 164 of said lamp 10 together serve as means for adjustably moving said lamp 10 to focus it with respect to said lens 34, to project light therefrom upwardly or downwardly or horizontally as a particular case may require.

In some cases it is desirable that the function of contactor 120 be taken care of manually, in which case the switch 1'70 Fig. 10 is used to shunt contactor 120 and the series switch 1'72 is then used to open and close the circuit of said solenoid 112 at the will of a traffic director.

As shown in Figs. 1' and 12, the outer legs are positioned opposite those points where the covers of the screen formed by screens 16 and 1'7 come to rest for the purpose of preventing the presentation of a two colored screen to view.

It is to be understood that gravity operated parts may take the place of springs 70 and 104 in certain cases. An important feature of the invention resides in the provisions for causing the lantern screen 216 to fix its own time and period of actuation. Once it is rightly set up in place, any actuation must result in a correct signal because the switch control is eifected by the colored lantern itself furthermore, since this control acts through double relays, it is practically certain that the right signals will be given.

While I have shown more or less diagrammatically an illustrated embodiment of the system and apparatus of the invention and described it in the specification, it is to be understood that various changes and substitutions in parts and combinations and in operation thereof can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein shown, set forth and claimed.

What I claim is- 1. In combination in a light signal, a hollow cylindrical lens having longitudinal light directing lenses formed thereon, a prismatic lantern screen of different colored members contiguous to each other in said hollow lens, a source of light within said screen, means for continuously rotating said hollow lens about its axis, and means for intermittently moving said screen to bring said members into a predetermined position, whereby approaches to the signal are intermittently flooded with projected light of different colors.

2. In combination in a light signal, a hollow cylindrical lens having longitudinal light directing flutings, a four sided screen within said hollow lens of alternately spaced red and green screens, a source of light within said screen, means for continuously rotating said hollow lens about its axis, and means for alternately moving one colored screen member into the position of a member of the other color, whereby approaches to the signal are intermittently flooded with uniformly projected beams of colored light.

3 In combination in a light signal apparatus, a hollow cylindrical lens having longitudinal lens facets for focusing light passing therethrough from within the hollow lens emanating from a source of light located in the axis of the lens, a four sided lantern element within said lens comprising alternate screens of red and green glass, means for continuously rotating said hollow lens about its axis, and means for alternately substituting one screen for the other comprising an armature actuated by a plurality of electro-magnets energized sequentially by contacts made and broken by the said lantern element, when moved by the said armature from one position to the other.

4. A signal lens comprising a hollow member with external facets corresponding to a Fresnel lens system disposed at right angles to a central axis of said member, the interior wall of the member having longitudinal flutings disposed parallel to said axis and adapted to concentrate a signal light beam in planes which pass through the axis of the hollow member, and means for continuously rotating said member around its axis.

5. A signal lens comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow member having an interior wall provided with fiutings extending substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis, and means for continuously rotating said member around said axis, in combination with a signal light located in the axis of rotation.

6. A traflic signal device comprising a lantern element provided with means having distinctive light signal characteristics, an inclosing lens system for said lantern capable of producing regions alternately of high and low intensity of illumination and means for rotating the lantern element periodically and the lens system continuously to establish light signals in difierent lines of approach to the signal device and to give a flicker effect.

EBERHARDT RECHTIN. 

